Malaysia – Author Carlo Carrasco

Philippines Economic Growth May Fall Behind Southeast Asian Neighbors

September 18, 2026September 11, 2026carlocarrasco

In the latest economic analysis of Bank of America (BofA), the Philippines may end up behind its Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) neighbors in terms of economic growth, and it could also mark another year of failing to hits is growth target, according to a report by BusinessWorld.

This is not surprising as the Philippines did not benefit economically from hosting the ASEAN Summit while it endured high inflation, weak gross domestic product (GDP) growth and lower foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows this year.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY may be among the slowest growing in Southeast Asia this year, as weak domestic demand keeps growth below its potential, Bank of America (BofA) said.

In a report dated Sept. 8, BofA Global Research kept its gross domestic product (GDP) forecasts for the Philippines at 2.5% in 2026 and 3.5% in 2027.

For 2026, this projection puts the Philippines on par with Thailand as the slowest-growing economies among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members included in the report.

The two countries are expected to trail Vietnam (8.2%), Indonesia (5.3%), Malaysia (5.2%), and Singapore (5.1%) this year. If BofA’s forecasts hold, the Philippines will miss its growth target for five straight years. Economic managers are targeting 3.5%-4.5% GDP growth this year and 5%-6% in 2027-2030.

“In second half of 2026, we see GDP growing 2.5% with gentle gains in consumption and the bottoming of investment spending,” BofA China & Asia Economist Helen Qiao and Asia Economist Ting Him Ho said.

“Government spending may help mitigate the effects of the oil shock by aiming subsidies at consumer and transport groups most affected,” they added.

The Philippine economic growth slumped to a post-pandemic low of 2.3% in the second quarter, bringing first-half growth to 2.6%. Economic managers said that last year’s flood control corruption scandal continued to weigh on public construction and investments, while the Middle East war-driven energy shocks dampened household spending.

“Domestic demand grew only 0.9% in 2Q26 with net trade providing the lift to overall GDP,” the BofA economists also noted. “Within domestic demand, private consumption slowed, investments shrunk, and government spending was unable to fully cushion.”

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines will continue to be the economic weakling of ASEAN this year? Has the weak economic growth of the Philippines affected you in many ways?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Better than Streaming: Watch out for Godzilla Minus Zero in cinemas this November

September 14, 2026September 10, 2026carlocarrasco

Welcome back fellow geeks and film buffs!

Great news for those who love giant monster movies and wild cinematic fantasies! The new movie Godzilla Minus Zero will be released in cinemas worldwide this November starting with Japan!

Godzilla Minus Zero is the sequel to the excellent Godzilla Minus One (2023) and Takashi Yamazaki is back as director, writer and head of visual effects. Key members of the cast from the 2023 movie are returning as well. Feeling excited? Watch the official trailer below and pay attention to the details.

The official description of Godzilla Minus Zero from Toho is as follows: Godzilla Minus Zero is the highly anticipated new film from director, screenwriter and with VFX by Takashi Yamazaki, who won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for Godzilla Minus One.

The synopsis: War reduced Japan to zero, and Godzilla plunged it into minus. Two years have passed since then, and the country has faced agonizing struggles to achieve recovery and finally reclaim its daily life.

Just as humanity managed to cling to a hard-won peace, a new threat strikes, crushing hope in an instant.

There is no third time. Everything ends here.

Promotional poster for 'Godzilla Minus Zero' featuring Godzilla amidst a stormy backdrop with lightning, announcing it is filmed for IMAX and releasing on November 6. — *Godzilla Minus One will open in cinemas in more than twenty countries on November 6, 2026. (photo source – Toho)*

With regards to the scheduled global cinematic release, Godzilla Minus Zero will play in cinemas on the following dates and nations:

November 3, 2026 – Japan

November 4, 2026 – Belgium, France, Indonesia, Laos, Luxembourg, Philippines, Thailand,

November 5, 2026 – Albania, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia, Brazil, Brunei, Central America, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Kosovo, Malaysia, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Switzerland, Uruguay, Venezuela,

November 6, 2026 – Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mozambique, Norway, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom (UK), United States of America, Vietnam, Zambia,

November 12, 2026 – Italy

November 20, 2026 – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan,

A person holding a glass jar containing a preserved specimen resembling a small, spiky object, with a label visible. The text 'Fight fire with fire.' is displayed below. — *Looks like a tiny piece of Godzilla was recovered somehow.*

I am glad that my native Philippines will have Godzilla Minus Zero officially screened on the 4^th of November. Godzilla Minus One’s screening in the Philippines was limited to a film festival and I had to import the 4K Blu-ray copy of it. To be clear, I enjoyed watching Godzilla Minus One and remember the very end of its footage, I am not surprised that Godzilla Minus Zero materialized. With the sequel coming out in a few months’ time, I am eager to find out what will happen next in the story about a struggling Japan and what will happen next to the core characters.

Already Toho confirmed that Godzilla Minus Zero was filmed for IMAX. That said, I will make an effort to see it in a local IMAX cinema here in the Philippines.

Right now, Godzilla Minus Zero is my most anticipated movie this year. Do you plan to watch it? Let me know in the comments below.

A large, monstrous creature with scales and spines stands amidst a devastated cityscape, roaring against a backdrop of dark, stormy clouds. — *Japan’s Gojira really looks fierce!*

If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts and talk about cinema, the cinematic trends, Blu-ray releases and more relevant stuff, visit the Movie Fans Worldwide Facebook group by clicking https://www.facebook.com/groups/322857711779576

+++++

Vietnam Attracts Almost 16 Million Foreign Tourists in First 8 Months of 2026

September 10, 2026September 4, 2026carlocarrasco

The tourism boom in Vietnam continued strongly as the nation successfully attracted almost sixteen million foreign tourists during the first eight months of 2026, according to a news report by VnExpress.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Vietnam welcomed nearly 2 million international visitors in August, up 19.7% from July and 18.4% year-on-year, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

In the first eight months of this year, the country received nearly 16 million foreign visitors, an increase of 14.4% from the same period in 2025 and equivalent to 63.6% of the full-year target.

The August figure is notable as the month is usually considered part of the low season for international tourism.

The result shows that the country’s tourism market continued to maintain and expand its appeal. Air travel remained the main mode of entry, accounting for 83% of international arrivals, while arrivals by road continued to increase, particularly from neighboring countries.

By region, Asia was still Vietnam’s largest source market, with about 11.8 million visitors in the eight-month period, making up nearly 74% of the total and increasing 7.4% year-on-year.

Europe recorded the strongest growth among major regions, at 53.4%, with about 2.68 million visitors.

Arrivals from the Americas reached around 887,000, up 20.7%, while those from Oceania rose 23.3% to nearly 489,000. Africa sent about 45,000 visitors to Vietnam, up 25.1%.

The tourism authority said the figures show that Vietnam is expanding its reach beyond nearby Asian markets, with strong growth from long-haul markets, helping diversify the visitor base and reduce dependence on individual markets.

By country, China remained Vietnam’s largest source market, with 3.54 million visitors, accounting for about 22.3% of the total. South Korea ranked second with approximately 2.76 million visitors, or 17.3%. Together, the two markets provided more than 6.3 million visitors, nearly 40% of the country’s total.

Russia ranked third with more than 1 million visitors, representing a year-on-year increase of about 165.7%, the highest growth among major source markets.

Other key markets also posted strong growth. Visitors from the U.S. increased 20.4%, Cambodia 41.5%, Japan 9.2%, the Philippines 58.8% and Australia 23.3%.

European markets continued to perform well, with arrivals from the U.K. rising 9.8%, France 13.4%, Germany 15.1%, Sweden 25.1%, Switzerland 27%, Poland 51.2% and the Czech Republic 28.2%. In Southeast Asia, tourists from Malaysia grew 20.5%, Singapore 31.7%, and Indonesia 26.7%.

India was another fast-growing market. The number of Indian visitors rose from just 102,000 in 2019 to more than 612,000 in the first eight months of 2026.

The expansion of direct air services between major Indian cities and Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang has helped make Vietnam more accessible to Indian travelers.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam can attract at least 25 million foreign tourists by the end of this year? If you plan to visit Vietnam soon, what are your three main reasons for visiting?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Thailand’s 2026 Tourism Revenue Reaches $29.8 Billion as of August 22

September 5, 2026September 1, 2026carlocarrasco

Thailand, one of the leaders of tourism in Southeast Asia, saw its 2026 tourism revenue reach almost $30 billion as of August 22 and it has also attracted over twenty million foreign tourists along the way, according to a report by VnExpress.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Thailand, Southeast Asia’s second-most visited country after Malaysia, recorded tourism revenue of 984.32 billion baht (US$29.8 billion) between Jan. 1 and Aug. 22, down 2.9% year-on-year, amid a slowdown in tourist arrivals.

The top five sources of tourists contributing to this revenue were China, Malaysia, India, Russia, and South Korea, Nation Thailand reported.

The tourism-dependent country welcomed 20.32 million international visitors during the period, down 2.96% from the same period last year.

Once a tourism powerhouse in Southeast Asia, Thailand has faced a slowdown in foreign arrivals since last year amid growing concerns over kidnapping and visitor safety.

Safety concerns have intensified following the deaths of two Russian tourists and three members of a Thai family in Chon Buri Province earlier this month, Bangkok Post reported.

The recent kidnapping of a Chinese tourist, who managed to escape before being taken across the border into Myanmar, has renewed concerns over the safety of foreign visitors.

The Thai government has cut its forecast for Chinese arrivals in 2026 from 9 million to 7 million.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Thailand’s tourism can somehow attract more foreign tourists and at least match their 2025 numbers? Do you consider Thailand a very safe place for foreigners? If you have visited Thailand before, did you get good value in return on your spending there?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Vietnam Surpasses Thailand As Southeast Asia’s 2nd Largest Aviation Market

August 5, 2026August 4, 2026carlocarrasco

With its booming tourism industry making huge economic impact, Vietnam surpassed Thailand as and emerged as the 2^nd largest aviation market in Southeast Asia this past July, according to a news report by VnExpress.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Vietnam surpassed Thailand to become the second largest Southeast Asian aviation market with 7.4 million seats in July, an increase in capacity of 5.6% year-on-year, according to a report by British aviation analytics firm OAG.

Indonesia remained the largest Southeast Asia market with 10.9 million seats, up 0.3% year-on-year.

Thailand, which held the second spot in previous months, slipped to third place with 6.9 million seats, a 3% reduction in capacity, followed by Malaysia and the Phillippines. The report said capacity reduced in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines due to the Middle East crisis.

Vietnam Airlines is the largest airline in Southeast Asia in July with 2.81 million seats, growing by just 0.1% year-on-year, according to OAG.

Overall capacity in the Southeast Asian market reduced by 1.2% compared to July last year to 50.4 million seats due to rising fuel costs triggered by political tensions in the Middle East, OAG reported.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Considering its rapidly growing tourism industry, were you surprised that Vietnam registered 7.4 million seats this past July? Considering what was achieved recently, do you think Vietnam will grow further as an aviation market once its new Long Thanh International Airport becomes operational?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

America Sanctioning Iran’s Mahan Air Network and IRGC-Linked Front Company

August 1, 2026July 31, 2026carlocarrasco

In a serious effort to weaken the fighting capability and severing the resources (financially and militarily) of the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran, the United States sanctioned entities and individuals in four nations that enabled the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to the official announcement of the Department of State.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the entire announcement of the State Department. Some parts in boldface…

The United States today sanctioned six entities and individuals in China, India, Russia, and Iran that enable the Iranian regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

These include entities that support Mahan Air, the IRGC’s airline of choice for moving weapons, military personnel, and equipment. Today’s action also targets DadeNegar Startup Studio, an IRGC-affiliated front company supporting Iranian military targeting by soliciting locations of American and Israeli equipment in the Middle East.

The United States calls on the international community, particularly companies and individuals doing business with Mahan Air or any other sanctioned Iranian carrier, to recognize the serious risks raised by continuing such engagement.

The United States will continue to expose and disrupt entities providing the IRGC with the tools and information it uses to threaten American personnel, our partners, and regional stability.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think this new move by the US will cripple the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran financial and militarily? Do you think members of the international community will follow America’s initiative? Do you think other nations like Pakistan, Malaysia and Bangladesh have entities or individuals who are supporting the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Philippines Attracts 2.9 Million Foreign Tourists In First Half Of 2026

July 25, 2026July 22, 2026carlocarrasco

For the first half of this year, the Philippines attracted 2.9 million foreign tourists and 1.13 million of that came from the United States and South Korea combined, according to a news report by Business Mirror. The figure does not include the 260,717 overseas Filipinos or balikbayan.

When compared to its Asian neighbors’ first-half foreign tourist numbers, the Philippines is still way behind Vietnam which attracted 12.3 million and Japan which attracted 21 million.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Business Mirror report. Some parts in boldface…

MORE relaxed visa entry requirements have enabled the Philippines to attract an increasing number of foreign tourists, lifting total visitor arrivals by 5.41 percent in the first half of the year.

Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed 3.16 million inbound tourists from January to June 2026, of which 2.9 million were foreign nationals and 260,717 were overseas Filipinos. The latter are described as Philippine passport holders permanently residing abroad. This year’s arrivals are 76.5 percent of the 4.13 million total in the first half of prepandemic 2019.

The DOT stressed that the data are based on e-travel records provided by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and are not final until Bureau of Immigration records are taken into account. E-travel registration is mandatory for those arriving in the Philippines except foreign diplomats, dignitaries, foreign government officials and their delegation, visiting business executives and students sponsored by the Philippine government or international organizations, and their immediate family members (9e visa).

Of the total foreign nationals, which were up 6.3 percent from the 2.73 million year on year (yoy), tourists from China and India were the most improved by 64.54 percent and 43 percent, respectively. Residents from both countries have been allowed to enter the Philippines visa-free for tourism purposes for 14 days.

The top 12 source markets of visitors for the Philippines all recorded increases, except for South Korea, with long-haul markets like Germany even showing monthly increases yoy, despite the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, which had jacked up jet fuel prices.

S. Korea plunges 13.7% – The United States continues to be the top source market for the Philippines with arrivals at 581,565 in the first half of the year, an increase of some 6.9 percent from the same period in 2025. Most of the market continues to be composed of Americans of Filipino decent, or Filipino immigrants, who visit the Philippines usually during the holiday season in December and January.

Some 300 Filipino-Americans are currently in the country as part of government’s long-running Very Important Pinoy (VIP) tour, and visiting destinations other than Metro Manila such as Cebu, Dumaguete, and Siquijor.

In second place are tourists from South Korea at 552,860, slumping by 13.7 percent, yoy. This was followed by Japan at 581,565 (+6.87 percent); China at 219,796 (+64.54 percent); Australia at 174,257 (+12.3 percent); and Canada at 156,763 (+15.6 percent), another haven of Filipino immigrants. Air Canada began offering direct flights from Vancouver to Manila in April last year, while flag carrier Philippine Airlines offers nonstop flights between Manila and Vancouver, and Toronto.

Tourists from Taiwan were in seventh place at 111,134, an increase of 11.85 percent; folowed by the United Kingdom at 92,829 (+1.7 percent); Singapore at 78,069 (0.35 percent); India at 60,583 (43.03 percent); Malaysia at 53,437 (+11.5 percent); and Germany at 48,657 (+6.9 percent).

Under the General Appropriations Act of 2026, the DOT committed to attract 6.7 million foreign tourists this year.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines will be able to attract 6.7 million foreign tourists by the end of this year? What do you think are the three most serious problems the Philippines has when it comes to attracting foreign tourists?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Vietnam Sets December 1 Opening For Ambitious Long Thanh International Airport

July 21, 2026July 16, 2026carlocarrasco

With large ambitions on tourism and commerce in mind, Vietnam recently announced that the brand-new Long Thanh International Airport will formally be opened for commercial flights on December 1, according to a news report by VnExpress.

Previously, the new international airport was powered up and the local authorities deployed soldiers to help complete the preparations. It is anticipated that most international flights will be handled by Long Thanh International Airport in 2027. During the first half of 2026, Vietnam attracted more than twelve million foreign tourists.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Vietnam will open its largest airport Long Thanh for commercial flights on Dec. 1 and move most of Ho Chi Minh City’s international traffic there within a year under a newly proposed transition plan.

Long Thanh is the biggest and most expensive airport project in Vietnam’s history, built at a cost of VND336.63 trillion (US$12.8 billion).

Sitting about 40 km east of Ho Chi Minh City, it is built first to relieve the chronically overcrowded Tan Son Nhat, which has run for years beyond its designed capacity.

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the state operator building Long Thanh, has said it hopes the airport will grow into a regional transit hub able to rival the established gateways in Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, reclaiming the long-haul connecting traffic that now flows through those hubs rather than Vietnam.

Long Thanh opens with capacity for 25 million passengers a year and reaches its full 100-million design ceiling only in later phases still years away. The target will make it surpass Singapore’s Changi, ranked the world’s best airport which handled a record 69.98 million passengers in 2025 and is expanding toward 140 million.

ACV has submitted a plan to split flights between Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat by region and route distance.

Long Thanh would take all international routes longer than 1,000 km and every cargo flight. Tan Son Nhat would keep shorter international routes flown on Code C jets such as the Airbus A320, A321 and Boeing 737.

Every route to East Asia, West Asia, Oceania and Europe would move to Long Thanh. Southeast Asian routes would be divided roughly 55% to the new airport and 45% to Tan Son Nhat.

The handover would run in three phases pegged to airlines’ seasonal schedules.

From Dec. 1, 2026 to March 27, 2027, Long Thanh would take all long-haul international and cargo flights along with new routes and added HCMC-area frequencies, about 19% of the area’s international passenger volume. Tan Son Nhat would keep its existing routes and open no new international ones.

From March 28 to Oct. 30, 2027, all flights to Europe, the Americas, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia would shift to Long Thanh, leaving Tan Son Nhat with its remaining Northeast and Southeast Asian routes.

From Oct. 31, 2027 to March 25, 2028, Long Thanh would handle nearly all international flights, keeping only scheduled sub-1,000 km routes flown by Vietnamese carriers at Tan Son Nhat.

ACV is targeting the transfer of more than 90% of the area’s international passenger traffic to the new airport by 2027.

Domestic flights would stay largely at Tan Son Nhat, though carriers could pick either airport based on demand across all three phases.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you convinced that Vietnam could someday attract 30 million foreign tourists by air annually with Long Thanh International Airport at full operation?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Five Foreigners Arrested In Parañaque City Over Online Scam

June 30, 2026June 24, 2026carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Parañaque, five foreigners were arrested by elements of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) over a suspected online scam hub located inside a condominium complex, according to a news report by The Daily Tribune.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of The Daily Tribune. Some parts in boldface…

Operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested five foreigners during an operation targeting a suspected online scam hub in Parañaque City.

The operation was conducted in the early hours of 17 June at a condominium complex in Sapphire Seaview Park, Parañaque City following intelligence reports linking the location to an alleged “love scam” operation that reportedly victimized individuals through online deception and cryptocurrency-related schemes.

Nabbed in the operation were Chinese national Tang Shun, Malaysian man Chia Kong Loon, as well as Burmese nationals Kum Htoi, Myo Oo, and Kyaw Tint Lwin. They were apprehended after immigration verification allegedly revealed violations of Philippine immigration laws.

According to intelligence information received by the BI, the location was allegedly being used for fraudulent online activities.

Authorities also received reports that some workers connected to the operation were being restricted from freely leaving the premises, prompting further investigation.

During the operation, one of the foreign nationals reportedly disclosed information indicating that multiple condominium units were being utilized for unlawful work-related activities. This led to the apprehension of the five foreign nationals.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you suspicious that there could be Chinese nationals living in your local community who could be secretly scamming people online? Do you believe that the concept of the Parañaque Renaissance includes criminal activities in the city committed by illegal aliens? Do you consider the city as a hot spot of illegal aliens today?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Vietnam Achieves 12.4% Tourism Growth In 1st Quarter Of 2026

June 14, 2026June 8, 2026carlocarrasco

Vietnam, a nation that was previously ravaged by war, saw its tourism industry grow by 12.4% in the first quarter of 2026 which is four times higher than the average for the Asia Pacific region, according to a news report of VnExpress. Already Vietnam attracted more than 10 million international visitors during the first five months this year.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Vietnam’s tourism sector grew by 12.4% in the first quarter of 2026, outpacing both regional and global averages, according to data from the United Nations Tourism Organization.

UN Tourism reported on June 2 that international tourist arrivals worldwide rose by 2% year-on-year in the first quarter, reaching around 307 million travelers.

Meanwhile, data from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism showed that the country welcomed nearly 6.8 million international visitors during the first three months of the year, up 12.4% from the same period in 2025.

The growth rate was four times higher than the average for Asia-Pacific.

The momentum continued into the first five months of the year, with international arrivals increasing by nearly 15%.

The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism attributed the strong performance to several factors, including political stability, welcoming environment, diverse tourism products, and improving service quality.

Tourism officials also cited effective tourism promotion campaigns, market diversification efforts, visa facilitation measures, and expanded international flight connections as key drivers of growth.

Amid ongoing global economic and geopolitical uncertainty, the results underscore the resilience and adaptability of Vietnam’s tourism industry.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam will close the gap with Thailand and Malaysia when it comes to attracting foreign tourists this year? Do you think the current tourism boom will create even more jobs and new businesses in Vietnam?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

	Vlad on Philippines Economic Growth Ma…
	Poverty & Inequa… on America Sanctions Palestinian…
	Poverty & Inequa… on Philippines Economic Growth Ma…
	#Iran on America Sanctions Palestinian…
	Social Media Channel on Philippines Economic Growth Ma…

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: